1. Livestock Marketing: Options on Futures
John Michael Riley, PhD
OSU Department of
Agricultural Economics

2. Options on Futures
Options are a separate contract but rely heavily on futures contracts
Provide a lowest price (for a seller) or a highest price (for a buyer)
Buyers of options must pay a premium which cannot be recovered
Much like a price insurance policy, protecting against adverse price move but can capitalize on a advantageous price move

3. Options on Futures
An option “purchaser” has the right -- but not the obligation -- to buy [or sell] a futures contract at a specified price on or before a certain expiration date
PUT = right to sell a futures contract
CALL = right to buy a futures contract

4. Option Terms
PUT & CALL
Strike price = price that the option allows the purchaser the right to buy or sell the underlying futures contract
Numerous strike prices are often available for a single futures contract, both above & below current market price
Premium = amount paid for the rights offered by the option

5. Option Hedge for Sellers
Previous module offered example of outcomes without hedging and an example with futures hedging
In early October you buy cattle to winter graze. After grazing you will sell the cattle in early March at approximately 700 pounds.
Would choose PUT option on the March feeder cattle futures contract to hedge.
PUT option offers the right to sell March futures.
March futures contract price in October = $1.17 per pound
Based on information, you expect basis to be -$0.15 per pound
Your expected cash sell price is $ $0.15 = $1.02 per pound
Many STRIKE prices, assume you choose a price slightly lower than current market at $1.12 per pound, which carries a premium of $0.04 per pound ($28 per head)

6. Example: price decrease
When you sell your cattle the cash price is $0.96 per pound and the March futures contract is $1.03 per pound.
Actual basis = $ $1.03 = -$0.07
Your option contract offers the right to sell a March futures contract at $1.12
Realized price = Cash Price minus Option Premium plus futures gains*
$ $ ($ $1.03) = $1.01
Only GAINS to futures, since options offer no obligation to trade the futures contract. Would use the maximum of the Futures selling price minus Futures buying price -or- $0

7. Example: price increase
When you sell your cattle the cash price is $1.24 per pound and the March futures contract is $1.31 per pound.
Actual basis = $ $1.31 = -$0.07
Your option contract offers the right to sell a March futures contract at $1.12
Realized price = Cash Price minus Option Premium plus futures gains*
$ $ ($ $1.31) = $1.21
Less than $0, so you would not exercise the option
Only GAINS to futures, since options offer no obligation to trade the futures contract. Would use the maximum of the Futures selling price minus Futures buying price -or- $0

8. Cash, Futures, & Options Outcomes
Feeder Calf Example: not-hedged vs
hedged
PUT option hedge

9. Option Hedge for Buyers
In April, a feedlot knows they will buy corn in August. (No August corn contract, so will use September contract month.) Will buy enough corn for 1 contract.
Current Futures price is $3.80 per bushel
Expect basis to be -$0.15 (cash price is typically 15 cents lower than futures).
To insure against a higher price, would choose a CALL option on the September futures contract. Many strike prices available, buyer chooses a strike of $4.00/bushel which carries a premium of $0.18/bushel.

10. Option Hedge for Buyers
In August, feedlot buys corn for $4.75/bushel. September futures contract price is $4.80/bushel (actual basis is -$0.05).
Realized Price* = $ $ ($4.80-$4.00) = $4.13
In August, feedlot buys corn for $3.25/bushel. September futures contract price is $3.30/bushel (actual basis is -$0.05).
Realized Price* = $ $ ($3.30-$4.00) = $3.43
Less than $0, so you would not exercise the option
CALL calculations are reversed compared to PUT, as the premium increases the price paid and futures contract gains reduce the price.

11. Cash, Futures, & Options Outcomes
Feedlot Corn Purchase Example: not-hedged vs
hedged
CALL option hedge

12. Livestock Risk Protection
LRP is very similar to a put option.
Sold by crop insurance agents.
Offered in the evening after futures markets have closed.
Pros:
More flexible than PUT
Can insure price for 1 head to 2,000 head
Can insure steers, heifers, dairy type cattle, and brahman type cattle
Carries a 13% premium subsidy
Cons:
Must hold policy until the end of the timeframe (cannot sell back or exercise early)
If futures market is limit up or down, then LRP is unavailable

13. Additional Resources
For more detailed information on topics discussed in this module:
OCES bulletin AGEC-548
OCES bulletin AGEC-549
USDA Risk Management Agency: Livestock Risk Protection
Feeder Cattle:
Fed Cattle:
Hogs:
Managing for Today’s Cattle Business and Beyond: Futures Market Basic
Managing for Today’s Cattle Business and Beyond: Commodity Options as Price Insurance for Cattlemen
Managing for Today’s Cattle Business and Beyond: Evaluating Forward Prices With Basis